Teel Time: ACC has 2 wins over ranked SEC teams for first season since 2005

Miami celebrates victory over Florida.

Miami celebrates victory over Florida.

David Teel

Clemson’s 52-13 dusting of South Carolina State on Saturday was routine and did nothing to enhance the ACC’s football profile. But as he exited his postgame presser, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney had a message about the conference.

“How about that ACC?” he said. “Spunky little, old league.”

Then, according to CUTigers.com’s Greg Wallace, Swinney made Miami’s “The U” sign, a shout out to the Hurricanes for their 21-16 victory over Florida earlier in the day.

Indeed, though in its infancy, the 2013 regular season, thanks to Clemson and Miami, is on track to rate among the ACC’s best and already towers over 2012.

Not to place too much stock in the Tigers’ opening-week win over Georgia and the Hurricanes’ over the Gators. Both games were in ACC stadiums, and perhaps Georgia and/or Florida aren’t/weren’t as good as their rankings.

But after a 2012 regular season in which its teams went 0-10 against Associated Press top-25 non-conference opponents — Clemson and Florida State bested ranked teams in their bowls — the ACC is 2-3 in such games this year.

The ACC’s next opportunity may have to wait until late November, when Georgia Tech, Florida State and Clemson play their traditional regular-season finales against Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, respectively.

ACC newcomer Pittsburgh hosts Notre Dame on Nov. 9. The Irish are No. 21 this week after Saturday’s loss at Michigan but could fall out of the top 25. Georgia Tech plays at Brigham Young on Oct. 12, and the Cougars were among the “others receiving votes” this week after their Saturday upset of Texas and despite their Week 1 loss at Virginia.

The ultimate measure of the ACC this season will be whether some combination of Clemson, Florida State and Miami remain in the national conversation, and how the league overall performs in bowls.

Regardless, toppling two ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference is notable. As the following list shows, the ACC hadn’t done that in eight years.